Breeding Boarder Collie

 Original Question I have a 16 month old boarder collie currently just started her 2nd heat cycle.

Now I don't plan to breed her yet but I would like some advise on the subject

1.Finding the best stud dog for her.
2. When it comes to the agreements with a stud dog owner.
3.Introducing the Dogs (I'd imagine the dogs should get to know each other before she reaches her 3rd heat cycle).
My female collie is quite nervous around new dogs so this would be necessary.
4.Vet health check on both dogs? (she is not registered with the kennel club so I only have a DNA test to prove her being purebred. I know this is not idea but my collie comes from a beautiful line of working farm dogs, which is my main goal to look for in a stud dog. She is microchipped of coarse and I have all the papers for that.
5. This is my first time breeding a "purebred" dog. Although I've had dogs in the past who had "mixed" pups. I am taking this a lot more seriously and keep a very close eye on my collie when she's been in first heat and now her current 2nd heat.

So when looking for the "perfect" stud dog what's the best deal you should get into money and time wise (coming up to her 3rd heat) which could be as soon as 6months away.

Thank you to anyone who can give me any advise as I would really like to be prepared.

Answer With Border Collies it is (or should be) about the dog's ability to WORK. By work it means herding.

Look up the American Border Collie Association and see what they require for this breed. They focus on keeping the Border Collie a working dog doing what it was bred to do.

Border Collies need to be tested for Collie Eye and a couple of other things (hip dysplasia, sound elbows to name two) before being bred.

So, with all this, how well does your dog herd sheep or cattle? Is your dog used on your own farm to work?

If not you need to consider training for those things before you breed this dog.

AKC registered Border Collies can be shown in conformation showing

I no longer recommend breeding or buying puppies that are from Conformation ONLY titles (REGARDLESS of breed).

Conformation titles are about how a dog looks and not about temperament or working ability. It is fine for a dog to be a Conformation Champion but that dog better have some other titles such as obedience, agility and so forth to show it has the genetic temperament to do something besides look pretty.

Answer 2

Before Border Collies made their way into loving homes as pets, they worked as herders. So many dog clubs emphasize breeding them only for their working ability.

Breeding them must only be to improve the breed’s abilities, not for their looks or anything else. But not everyone looking to breed Border Collies has this expertise.

So before you breed Border Collies, you must gain all the knowledge necessary. The answers to the important questions you seek about breeding them are all in this article.

Is It Hard to Breed Border Collies?

Almost anyone can bring two Border Collies together and produce puppies. But without preparation and expertise, you only produce pet-quality puppies. To breed Border Collies of high quality and for their working ability is challenging.

Lovers of the breed and even the ABCA will tell you to only breed Border Collies for their working ability. Conscientious dog lovers will only produce puppies to improve the breed.

It took centuries of work to develop Border Collies, so keep in mind to maintain their quality. And to maintain their abilities is to take appreciation for their heritage.

This is an uphill battle for one without experience.

This is along with making sure the puppies are healthy and given proper nutrition. You have to take them to the vet routinely for checkups, vaccines, and more.

So while anyone can breed Border Collies without much difficulty, not everyone should. There is a lot of blood, sweat, tears, and money put into breeding. And not everyone can keep up with the responsibilities breeding entails.

At What Age Can a Female Border Collie Breed?

You should only breed a female Border Collie once they are at least 18 months of age, which is the safest age. Although they get their first heat within a year old, they are not fully developed yet. But around the 2-year mark, their pelvis and hips will be ready for her to deliver puppies.

Their physical condition is not the only thing you should look at. If they have babies when they are younger, their mentality will not be ready as well. They may show no interest in raising puppies, which they will have to do for at least 8 weeks.

So if you wait a little longer, you can ensure that your Border Collie is responsible enough to take care of a litter. Not only that, but this will also ensure that you produce puppies that had enough time with their mother. This is a crucial step in their development.

When Can a Male Border Collie Mate?

Male Border Collies are fertile at 6 months of age, and you can start mating them at this age if you want to. But you will get the best results if you wait longer, once they are 12 to 15 months of age. This is when they reach full physical maturity and so they are more fertile after a year old.

What Is the Best Age to Breed a Border Collie?

The best age to breed your Border Collie will depend on their gender. For males, this would be when they are around 12 to 15 months old. For females, you need to wait longer as it is best to breed them at around 18 months old.

Technically, Border Collies can mate much younger than this, before they turn one. But your Border Collie is still a puppy at this age, so they have some more developing to do.

This is especially important for female Border Collies. Their hips and pelvis will not be ready for delivering puppies if they are as young as a year old. They will also still have the mentality of a puppy so they may not give their puppies proper care.

So while you may be eager to produce more of this well-loved breed, it is best to wait. This is for the well-being of your Border Collie and their puppies. But this will also benefit you, as you get a better experience and a better litter.

At What Age Should You Stop Breeding a Border Collie?

The oldest you can breed your Border Collie is until they are 8 years of age. But conscientious breeders will retire their Border Collies younger, at 5 years old.

Many vets will recommend this to you for ethical reasons. At 8 years of age, your Border Collie may have had too many litters already. This takes a toll on their body, especially at an age where health issues may come up.

If they already have an existing medical condition, this is more reason for you to stop breeding them. Their body is going through so much as it is. You would not want to add to their burden, carrying and delivering puppies is not easy.

Even dog organizations are very strict with this. Most of them will not allow you to register puppies if the mother is over 8 years of age.

So if you can, it is better for you to retire your Border Collie at 5 years of age. This will let you focus on their health and well-being so they transition to their golden years with ease.

At What Age Do Female Border Collies Go Into Heat?

You can expect your Border Collie to go into heat once they are around 5 to 8 months of age. You will notice some physical and behavioral differences while they are in heat.

One tell is that their vulva will appear swollen. This can come with a blood-tinged discharge, but the color may vary. Other than that, you may also notice that they are more aggressive than usual.

More signs tell you that your Border Collie is in heat. Do not worry if you see these, as they are part of the process. These signs will go away once your Border Collie’s heat is over.

How Long Does a Border Collie Period Last?

Your Border Collie’s period can last around 2 to 4 weeks. But this may last even shorter or longer so this will still vary from one dog to another. Their discharge color will be more intense early on but will be lighter at the end of their period.

How Long Does a Border Collie First Heat Last?

A Border Collie’s first heat will last around 2 to 4 weeks. But this is only an average, as they may take more time in various stages of the heat cycle.

How Often Do Female Border Collies Go Into Heat?

On average, Border Collies go into heat about every 6 months. But the interval can vary from one to another, so it is best to keep track.

During their first few heat cycles, they may not have a regular interval yet. The frequency of their heat cycle may be more stable at 18 to 24 months of age.

How Can I Tell if My Border Collie Is In Heat?

A common sign of heat that many watch out for is a swollen vulva and bleeding. But these are not the only indications your Border Collie is in heat. What they exhibit will also vary on where they are in the heat cycle.

Here are the general signs that your Border Collie is in heat:

• Bleeding
• Swollen vulva
• Frequent urination

But they will also undergo behavioral changes during the proestrus and estrus phases.

During the proestrus phase is when their vulva swells and when they start their period. They know what to do with their bloody discharge and will clean themselves on their own.

How Long Does a Border Collie Bleed for?

Your Border Collie can bleed for about 7 to 10 days. The flow of the bleeding will vary from one dog to another. Larger dogs will often bleed more than smaller dogs.

When Is the Best Time to Breed a Border Collie?

It is best to breed your Border Collie once they have fully developed. So for males, this is around 12 to 15 months of age. While for females, this is around 18 months of age.

Males are already fertile during their adolescence, at 6 months of age. While females already have their first heat at around 5 to 8 months of age.

But during those ages, your Border Collie is still a puppy, both physically and mentally.

A male Border Collie will be more fertile after a year old. While a female Border Collie will only have its pelvis and hips ready for birthing at around age two.

Females also need time for mental maturity. There is a high chance of them rejecting their puppies when they are still under 2 years of age. You will get a better chance of avoiding this if you wait a bit more.

How Do I Get My Border Collie to Mate?

Mating is instinctual to dogs and they will know what to do so you end up with a litter of adorable pups! But sometimes, they will need your help, especially if it is their first time. Much of your help will go into preparation, a crucial part of the process that many often overlook.

But there is more to breeding dogs than putting a male and a female together. You have to make sure the timing is right, among other things. With this, preparation is key for a more successful outcome.

What to Do Before Mating

Before mating two dogs, make sure that they are ready for the process. Healthy dogs are more likely to produce healthy puppies. So this is part of your responsibility as a breeder.

Track the Female’s Heat Cycle

One of the most important parts of the preparation process is your timing. You need to track the female’s heat cycle to get the best results.

The first day of their cycle is when you notice a bloody discharge from them. Their vulva will swell too, along with other signs that they are in heat. But this is not when they are fertile, this happens later in the cycle.

Usually, they will be fertile at around the 10th day of their heat cycle. This is when their bleeding stops, so their discharge will be a paler pink. A female dog will be more receptive to males during this period, so she will allow him to mount her.

Maintain the Female’s Weight

The female needs to stay at a healthy weight. This will give them a better chance of having a healthy pregnancy and conceiving.

So if your female is underweight or overweight, bring them to an ideal weight before the mating. You can consult your vet so they can recommend a diet for them.

Feed Them Both a Healthy Diet

You need to give both dogs the proper nutrition for them to yield quality puppies. But take note that each dog will have different dietary needs. So you need to tinker with their diet to what suits them best.

To do this, you can talk to your vet to be sure. At home, you can substitute commercial treats for healthier options. Fruits and veggies are great for this, such as carrots, apples, and green beans.

Keep the Male Well-Groomed

This is especially important on the day of mating. You need to keep their genitals clean to prevent infections during mating. Other than that, it is also encouraged to trim the fur around their genital area.

Introduce the Dogs

This will make the mating process much easier for everyone, especially the dogs. By doing this, they will get familiar with each other and feel less nervous on their mating day.

What to Do During the Mating Day

Mating can be stressful for some dogs, more if they are first-timers. The important thing here is to keep both dogs calm as their instincts will kick in soon after.

Do Not Feed the Male

A male with a full stomach will not have the energy to mate. So you need to withhold their meals on the day of mating. This is to maintain their energy and enthusiasm. Do not worry, you can feed them after the mating process!

Calm Them Down

This is a necessary thing for you to do. If they are anxious, you may not get them to mate. So right before the process begins, introduce them to one another if you have not done this yet.

So take the time to pet and talk to each dog gently for reassurance. It will also help if you muzzle the female to prevent her from biting the male dog. This will make the male feel more at ease knowing that he will not get hurt.

Make sure to pick a calm and quiet place for breeding. Remember that Border Collies are skittish. Any loud noise or other distraction can make them even more nervous.

Any stimuli that will startle them can stop the breeding process.

Help Them if Needed

This is where the perfect timing plays a part. If the female is in the right phase of the heat cycle, she will present her rear end to the male. You will know that the male is ready when his tail starts to shake.

He will then mount the female to begin the breeding process. But if he does not, do not hesitate to direct them. You can guide the male towards the rear end of the female to let him mount her.

The female may also need your help during the process. The weight of the male dog on her may be too much, but there is something you can do to help.

You can keep the female on a leash and collar, and hold her by the ribs. This will stabilize her until the male can successfully penetrate her.

When Do Border Collies Start Showing Pregnancy?

Your Border Collie will start to show at around the 40th day of their pregnancy. Their body will appear bigger, especially their belly. You will also notice that their nipples are much bigger and darker than they used to be.

Since they are this far along in their pregnancy, you need to start preparing for delivery. Unexpected things may happen and she may give birth earlier than expected. Make sure to set up a calm birthing area that she is comfortable in.

How Long Do Border Collies Carry Puppies?

Your Border Collie will carry her puppies for around 61 to 65 days, which is about 2 months. Like humans, she will also undergo trimesters, each lasting about 21 days.

Throughout her pregnancy, you need to take extra care of her. This includes her nutrition, which is extremely important for her and her puppies.

Make sure you speak with your vet about the proper diet for your Border Collie. She needs to gain weight, this needs to be the right amount. If she is underweight or overweight, this will negatively affect her puppies.

Pregnant Border Collies will need a diet that is low in fiber yet high in soluble carbohydrates. Her meals should also consist of 29% of protein and 17% fat content.

Make sure to cut down her calcium as well. A high-calcium diet for pregnant dogs can lead to high blood pressure. This puts them and their puppies in a dangerous situation.

How Long Is a Border Collie in Labor?

Since Border Collies have slim heads, their labor generally lasts around 2 to 3 hours. But this can still vary, as some will be in labor for around 6 to 12 hours or longer.

Given that the duration varies from one dog to another, you should know when to call your vet. This will let you get immediate help when the situation calls for it. You should seek your vet’s help if:

• No puppy comes out after 30 minutes of strong contractions
• No puppy comes out after 2 to 4 hours of week contractions

• The labor process lasts more than 24 hours
• A puppy is hanging out

It will also be useful for you to know the normal signs of labor. This way, you will not get startled once your Border Collie is in labor.

How Many Times Can You Breed a Border Collie?

The ethical thing to do is to only let your female Border Collie have 4 to 5 litters in her lifetime. If they are not in good health, this should be even less. Not only is this the right thing to do, but breeding a female dog too much can impact her health. Carrying puppies to term, delivering them, and recovering from it is hard on their bodies.

So just because they go in heat twice a year, does not mean that you should breed them twice a year. This does not give them enough time to recover.

They look like they have recovered after a few months, but this is only on a physical level. You also need to let them recover mentally for their well-being. Motherhood will also take a toll on their mental health as well.

How Often Can Border Collies Breed?

From an ethical standpoint, you should only breed your female Border Collie once about every 2 years. For a male Border Collie, you have more freedom as there is no breeding limit for them. So your attention should be on the female when it comes to breeding.

Once every 2 years is the safest for a female, but this is assuming they are in good health. Here is an explanation of this breeding frequency. But first, here are the facts.

he safest age to start breeding females is at least 18 months, which is around 2 years of age. And they should retire from breeding when they are 8 years of age. According to the ABCA, you should only let a female have 4 to 5 litters in their lifetime.

With that, you only have 6 years to breed your female Border Collie. Adding 4 to 5 litters into the equation, you can breed them once about every 2 years. This gives your female Border Collie enough time to recover between pregnancy.

Keep in mind that this is only if your Border Collie has a clean bill of health. So make sure to have your vet examine your Border Collie before you plan to breed them again.

How Many Puppies Does a Border Collie Usually Have?

Border Collies have a generous litter size with an average of 6 puppies. But they can have fewer or more, with a range of 4 to 8 puppies in a single litter. There are a few factors that affect their litter size, such as their:

• Size
• Health
• Age
• Pregnancy history

Smaller Border Collies often deliver less than 6 puppies, while bigger ones have more. Some Border Collies may even deliver more than 8 puppies in one litter.

Older Border Collies or those with health issues will also yield fewer puppies, at around 4 to 6. They can also have a litter size that is small if they have been pregnant before.

But if your Border Collie is young and healthy, you can expect more adorable pups coming your way!

How Many Puppies Do Border Collies Have in Their First Litter?

There is no exact number for this, but the first litter your Border Collie has is usually smaller. So you can expect their litter size to be fewer than 6 puppies.

Is It Normal for a Border Collie to Have One Puppy?

While this is rare, it is possible for your Border Collie to only deliver one puppy. Popularly called a “singleton”, this puppy will have some problems down the road. So when this happens, you need to take extra care of them.

A puppy’s littermates are their first teachers. Through constant socialization and physical contact, they learn how to behave.

Being with their littermates is like an early test for puppies. For example, puppies bite each other as a form of play. But through this, they learn how hard to bite before hurting any dog.

That is one of the things that help them to be better dogs when they grow up. Bite inhibition will also teach them how hard to munch on your hand before hurting you. And since Border Collies are mouthy dogs, this will come in handy.

There are a lot of other lessons a puppy can learn from interacting with their littermates. All the nuisance they experience from being in a pile of puppies is for their benefit and yours.

Their early experiences are important for their social growth. But being a singleton, your Border Collie puppy does not get to learn as much without a litter.

Here are some of the behavioral issues a singleton puppy may exhibit as they grow up:

• Difficulty in controlling impulses
• Lack of social skills
• Inability in handling their frustration
• Sensitivity to touch

All these can affect you as their carer as well as other family members or pets you have at home. With this, raising a singleton Border Collie will need more work.

The best thing to do for a singleton puppy is to raise them with another litter. You can find one that is close to your pup’s age to make things easier.

If you cannot find one, you may have to teach everything to them. But this will need a lot of your time, which can be hard if you have other responsibilities.

What Age Should a Border Collie Puppy Leave Its Mother?

The best age for a Border Collie puppy to leave its mother is once they are around 8 to 9 weeks of age. Some argue that it is even better to wait a bit longer than this. But by this time, they are already weaned off and have had enough socialization with their litter.

If you separate them from their mother and littermates too young, you will face some issues. These puppies are more prone to developing behavioral issues when they grow up. They may also be trickier to train and display resource guarding more.

How Much Does It Cost to Breed Border Collies?

Considering all the breeding expenses, breeding a Border Collie will be around $1,609 to $8,245. The price will vary depending on how much you are willing to pay for the quality of their care. This will also depend on your location, how much your vet charges, and more.

What Is the Breed Standard for a Border Collie?

The general appearance of this breed is a well-balanced body with enough substance. At first glance, you can tell that Border Collies are athletes. Their physical characteristics should display power, endurance, and agility while displaying gracefulness.

Border Collies should also display their intelligence and alertness through their facial expression. They are always full of interest whenever they focus on something.

A big factor in determining a Border Collie’s breed standard is their ability to work. So their conformation, movement, and temperament should all work together in enhancing this. Remember, Border Collies are being bred for their abilities and not for their looks.

With this, here is a more detailed breed standard for Border Collies.

Head and Skull

Their skull has moderate flatness and width, with the back of their head not pronounced. Their skull and muzzle are about equal in size. A Border Collie’s muzzle should taper to the nose and is fairly short and strong.

Border Collies should have a black nose. But it can be brown if their coat color is brown or chocolate. If they have a blue coat, the nose should be slate.

Eyes

Border Collies should have oval-shaped eyes of moderate size that are set wide apart. Their eye color should be brown, but in merles, one or both of their eyes can be blue.

Ears

This breed has medium-sized ears that are set well apart. It can either be erect or semi-erect and they should be sensitive and move to stimuli. If their ears as semi-erect, they can only fall out to the side or forward.

Mouth

They should have strong, healthy teeth that have a complete scissor bite. Border Collies who have broken teeth due to their line of work are acceptable.

Neck

A Border Collie’s neck should look strong and muscular and must be of good length. It should have a slight arch and broadens toward its shoulders.

Forequarters

Notice the bones on their front legs, they should be strong but must not look heavy. From the front, their legs should look parallel to the ground. Their patterns should slope when you view them from the side.

Their shoulders are well laid back with their elbows close to their body.

Hindquarters

Their back legs should appear broad and muscular, with long thighs that are deep. Border Collies should have well-turned stifles and their hocks must be strong.

When viewed from the side, their back legs should slope to the tail. When viewed from the back, their hind legs should appear parallel as well.

Give Them Privacy

Once they have started the process, supervise them from a distance. Make sure not to do anything that interrupts them, such as making a loud sound.

Be patient, as they may stay tied together tail-to-tail for up to 30 minutes. Do not interrupt or separate them when you see this, as this will stress them out.

Continue supervising them and prevent the female from moving around too much. Your goal now here is to prevent the male from getting harmed.

What to Do After Breeding

After the two get released from being tied up, there are still a couple of things you can do to assist them.

Caring for the Female

The important thing to do here is to prevent her from urinating for about 20 minutes after mating. This will give the sperm enough time to be inside, helping with the conception.

To do this, you can walk them around for that duration. Remember not to let her crouch while waiting for the time as well.

After that, give her plenty of rest in her crate.

Caring for the Male

The male’s penis will retract sometime after mating. But if it does not retract after 30 minutes, you can help them by moving their penis back into the sheath. By doing this, you can prevent any issues with their genitals.

You may also feed them after the mating process as they have not eaten all day yet.

How Long Does It Take for a Border Collie to Get Pregnant?

After mating, you need to wait around 48 to 73 hours for your Border Collie’s eggs to get fertilized. It is hard to know if your Border Collie is pregnant this early. So you can take them to the vet after 3 to 4 weeks from the day of breeding to confirm.

But a week after mating, you may notice some signs that they are pregnant.

A week after mating, you may notice that their vulva is still swollen. Their nipples may also appear enlarged.

Around 3 to 4 weeks in, they may show a decrease in appetite. What this tells you is that she now has morning sickness. But during these weeks, you can already take them to the vet to be sure if they are pregnant.

But keep in mind that the scans you get this early on may still not be reliable. Scanning them after a month or so is a more reliable way to check if they are pregnant.

Feet

Their oval-shaped feet must be strong and deep. They should have an arch on their toes and they should be close together.

Body

This athlete must have a deep and broad chest, with well-sprung ribs. Their loins are also deep and muscular, but should not tuck up. A Border Collie’s body length must be longer than their height at the shoulders.

Tail

Border Collies have tails that are of moderate length. The tail is set on low and the bone must reach the hock at least. Their tail has a slight upward swirl but it must not curve over their back.

Coat

Border Collies can have two coat varieties. One is a rough coat, which is medium to long in length. The other is a smooth coat, which is shorter.

Both coats have a dense topcoat with a medium texture. While their undercoat must be soft and dense.

Color

Border Collies come in a variety of colors and markings. No color or pattern is preferable, but white must not predominate.

Size

Male Border Collies have a height of 19 to 22 in (482 to 558 mm) at the withers. While female Border Collies stand at 18 to 21 inches (457 to 533 mm).

Puppy not eating food

 Original Question - Hi, Our 9 month old puppy just spent the last month with my in-laws as we had to travel for my dad's funeral in another country. When we came back we discovered that they had been mixing in peanut butter with his dry food to help him want to eat in our absence and it seems like that has become an expectation now. So now that he is home, and back to getting regular dry food, he is refusing to eat. Yesterday I did mix in some peanut butter just to make sure he ate something. Today it is now 4pm here and he still hasn't eaten breakfast. He is energetic otherwise. Wants to play, is drinking, wants to cuddles and to go for walks. So I am not concerned he is sick.

My question is - do I just wait for him to cave and start eating dry food again on his own? Do I mix it with peanut butter to ensure he eats? What would you recommend?
Answer- Although we all love our dogs, you can drive yourself crazy trying to figure out some of the odd things they do. One of the most confusing is when your puppy won’t eat out of their food bowl, but instead chooses to do something you can’t explain.

Perhaps your pup:

• Grabs a mouth full of food and takes it to another part of the room?
• Won’t eat out of his new bowl?
• Sniffs the bowl but won’t eat?
• Doesn’t eat his food unless you’re nearby?
• Won’t eat from his bowl but will from your hand?
• Only eats if you hold the bowl?

Is any of this normal or do you just have a strange pooch? Let’s answer that before we dive into why they do these things, what you can do about them, and give you some training tips to get them back to the bowl!

Table of Contents  

1 Is It Unusual That My Puppy Won’t Eat From His Bowl?

2 What You Should Do First – Important!

3 Top 6 Reasons as to Why Your Puppy Won’t Eat From His Bowl (Plus How To Get Him To!)

4 Tips & Tricks

5 Final Thoughts

6 Puppy Food Bowl FAQs

Is It Unusual That My Puppy Won’t Eat From His Bowl?

It is actually quite common behavior for puppies to decide they’d rather not eat out of their bowl, as confusing as that might be for us dog owners.

It’s even more baffling when you consider the fact that we take great pride in providing our pooches a dinner service that provides a perfectly clean and comfortable location for them to enjoy their meal.

And, even worse than them not appreciating the clean place that we provide, they leave behind crumbs and bits and pieces of food on the carpet. I’ve tried to get my dog to go behind himself to clean up his mess, but he still doesn’t do it. Sigh… what can we do?

We’re going to look at some of the reasons that may explain why your dog is being weird about eating from his bowl, but first let’s go over some important information.

What You Should Do First – Important!

Consult with your veterinarian. Do this before attempting to “cure” your dog of his behavior problem. They should be able to recommend the perfect food for your dog by taking into account his individual nutrition needs, based on his breed, age, etc. They can also tell you how much you should be feeding him.

It is also possible that your dog could be suffering from a health problem that is causing him to not want to eat out of his bowl, and it’s best to have this ruled out before you do anything else.

If your dog has stopped eating altogether for more than 24 hours, you definitely need to take him to the vet.

Also consider the history of your pup before beginning to train him. He might have some kind of trauma now if he has ever had a bad food bowl experience.

Has he ever been scared by something while eating out of it? A loud noise, something falling over, or thunder, for example, may have startled him.

There is a possibility that something could have happened before he came to live with you.

As with anything in dog training, you’ll need to be patient and remember that your puppy’s behavior won’t always change instantly.

Top 6 Reasons as to Why Your Puppy Won’t Eat From His Bowl (Plus How To Get Him To!)

1. The Wrong Bowl

It could be that your furry friend does not like his bowl for the simple reason that it annoys him. Many times us humans are put into a position where the things around them annoy them for one reason or another. Dogs can be the same as well.

What could annoy him about a food bowl? I’m glad you asked. Here are some possibilities:

• It has a color that bothers him.
• It has a texture that he is sensitive to.
• There is a smell that he doesn’t like.
• The sound of his metal dog tags clanking against the side of the metal bowl bothers him, or the sound of kibble in the bowl.
• His bowl moves while he eats, or makes a scraping sound on the floor as it does.
• He’s previously had a bad experience while eating from a similar bowl.

Regardless of the reason or how suddenly it has come on, if he doesn’t like the bowl, then he doesn’t like the bowl. Your dog retains the right to be a fussy furball.

My dog has had bowls he wasn’t keen on, for reasons still unknown to me.

What Should I Do?

Replace his food bowl with a new one. If he doesn’t like how it looks, feels, or sounds he will refuse it until it is perfect. It really could be as simple as giving him a new bowl!

First of all, if he does have tags that are clanging against the bowl, try removing them while he eats to see if that makes a difference.
If that’s not it, get him a bowl that is completely different to the one he has now: one that is made from a different material and is a another color.
If the bowl moves around, try one with a rubber grip on the bottom to keep it in place.

Be aware that your puppy may have got into the habit of not eating from his bowl, so you might have to also try some of the tips and tricks further down to convince him to give it another go.

2. The Wrong Food

He eats it because he’s hungry, not because he likes it. Him grabbing a mouthful at a time and carrying it away is his way of protesting.

You may have changed his food recently and he doesn’t like what you changed it to.

If your dog won’t eat dry food from his bowl, but he will eat wet food, there’s a good chance he just doesn’t like dry food.

He could also have had enough of eating the same meal everyday, and is craving something different.

What Should I Do?

First of all make sure you’re giving him the right food.

A puppy should have puppy food. Puppy foods will normally be higher in protein and fat, and lower in carbohydrates, than adult dog food. They also have more ingredients that are appealing to a puppy’s sense of taste and smell. Of course, as your dog grows up he will need to switch to regular food.

If it is just dry food your pup won’t eat, add some warm water to make it softer for him.

It is possible he may have gotten bored with the flavor, so you could add some chicken broth, beef stock, or a little extra gravy to give it a flavor boost and change things up for him.

3. The Wrong Place

For whatever reason, he simply doesn’t like the environment where his bowl is placed, and would prefer to eat somewhere else.

What Should I Do?

If possible, move his bowl to a different location. If not, try to figure out what might bother him about that environment:

• Are there noises?
• Is something touching him while he eats?
• Is it hot or cold?
• Anything else distracting?
• There could also be a smell he doesn’t like, one you’re not aware of with your average nose!

After you’ve eliminated anything he might not be happy with, try some of the tips & tricks below.

Note: if you’ve trained your dog to eat in a certain place and you move his bowl, you may need to let him know it’s OK for him to eat at the new location. I moved my dog’s bowl once and he sat patiently waiting at the usual spot until I called him over to the new place and praised him – such a good boy!

4. Natural Instinct

Perhaps your dog is simply doing what his instincts tell him to do. Dogs are animals that are heavily influenced by their instincts. In the wild, dogs typically have to drag anything they want to eat away because if they don’t then others in the pack will try to eat it or steal it away.

What Should I Do?

If it’s simply instinct making him take his food elsewhere, he will likely grow out of it withing a few weeks or months as he realises there is no threat.

Be sure to give him space to eat – especially from other dogs who might actually steal his food given the opportunity!

You could also try limiting how far he can actually take the food; he may well decide it’s not worth the effort moving it just a short distance away.

5. Unwanted Attention

He may have become a bit self-conscious. He has decided that he would like a bit of privacy while he eats his dinner instead of dining in front of everyone.

It is easy to get distracted when everyone is watching the puppy eat. He may become very concerned with what everyone is doing, or he will become overly protective of his food and try to carry it away.

If he’s taking the food to a more secluded spot, this may well be the problem.

What Should I Do?

You could move his bowl to a more private area so that he will only be concerned with food.

If he likes to be alone while he eats, respect that.

6. Protection

He feels protected with you there. If your dog doesn’t eat his food unless you’re looking at him or standing near him, this is likely the case.

He’s more off guard while he’s eating, so he wants you to be around while he does it because he trusts you and knows you’ve got his back.

So if he’s following you with a mouthful of food, now you know why!

Your puppy only eating from your hand, or only eating if you hold the bowl, are also likely caused by this. You can find solutions to these specific problems under the FAQs at the bottom of the page.

What Should I Do?

If your puppy wants you to stay and watch over him while he’s enjoying his meal, do that. He may well look round now and again to check you’re still there.

Over time you can gradually start to move further and further away until he no longer needs you there at all.

If he actually needs you looking at him, get him used to you not doing so first. Only watch him until he starts or resumes eating, then look away again. He’ll eventually get over it.

Tips & Tricks

If none of the above is helping, here are some additional things you can try:

Giving him some special treats

It won’t take more than a few tasty treats in his bowl for him to give in and return to using it. Put some in his bowl every other night.

Smear some peanut butter in the bowl

Dogs love peanut butter and he’s going to have to lick the bowl if he wants it! Make sure it is natural/organic and, importantly, does not contain Xylitol: a sugar-free sweetener that is great for humans, but extremely toxic to dogs, even in small amounts.

Don’t feed him peanut butter too often: it should be used as an occasional treat.

Limit the time he has to eat

Put his bowl of food down for a short period of time. About 10 – 15 minutes is good. Then take it away and don’t put it back down again until the next meal time: be that several hours or the next day.

Scarcity is a very motivating factor. In the wild, dogs eat whenever food is available as they don’t know when the next meal will come. If there is always food out for him to eat, he will lose this natural instinct.

You cannot train your dog to eat from his bowl unless he is hungry.

Obviously make sure he knows it’s there! Choose a command such as “Let’s eat!” or “Time for dinner!” to use. To avoid confusion, you should always place his food dish in the same place each time.

Final Thoughts

You want to teach your dog that:

• A bowl is the only place from which he should be eating.
• When his food is placed in front of him he should eat it straight away.

During the first few weeks of life, your dog got all of his nutrition from his mommy dog’s milk, but there comes a time when he should start eating from his bowl. This will not only make your life a lot easier, but you will also be able to keep a much closer eye on how much and how often he eats.

They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but it really isn’t very difficult to teach a dog of any age to eat from a bowl.

Be sure you’ve checked with your vet which food he should be eating and how much, and ruled out any health problems.

Remember that though it may seem odd to us for your dog or puppy to carry his food away, it is a behavior that is very common and is also very normal.

Your dog or your puppy has a mind of his own, and he has a very distinct personality. Many times your dog is going to do things that you don’t understand, but that does not mean that he doesn’t know what he is doing.

As long as he is eating his food, then maybe it is not something that you should be too concerned about, at least while he’s only a few months old. Let him be a puppy.

Puppy Food Bowl FAQs

Why won't my puppy eat from his bowl but will from my hand?

If your puppy will only eat if hand fed, he most likely doesn't like the bowl or feels protected when you feed him.

Try changing the bowl, but if that doesn't help then follow these steps:

1. Start hand feeding him over his bowl, in the place where it will usually be.

2. Have the food on one side of the bowl with a space for your hand on the other.

3. With every handful of food you give him, move your hand a little lower into the bowl, until your hand is flat on the bottom.

4. Once he's finished the food in your hand, he should naturally continue eating the rest from the bowl.

5. If he doesn't, slide your hand under the food in the bowl so it's harder for him to tell the difference.

6. Once he's eating from the bowl, give it a few seconds and you can just slowly slip your hand out.

He may stop eating the first few times you remove your hand: just put it back in until he continues eating. Keep at it and he will eventually get the idea.

4 month old Golden Retriever stops doing only one of many learned behaviors. Reason?

 Original Question- Our Golden Retriever, Rogan, has been very good at learning and doing different tricks from sit, wait, shake, other paw, down, up etc. and he's been very good at heel since a young puppy. Yesterday out of the blue I tried to get him to do with a treat - I have him give me attention and then I swing my right arm next to my side like at attention and he comes right up and sits and will walk there with treats. Yesterday he acted scared and went into a down position. Like he is scared of my side. Same thing today.

He's not very good at this on walks being distracted and the last time we went I kept the leash pretty short and tried to work with him, but he pulled a lot.

Is this rebellious phase? Did I do something to negatively reinforce the heel ask? Every other trick he does perfectly and when I throw in heel, he acts totally different.

Hoping someone has some experience can help a new puppy owner out.

Answer 1- Heeling is unnatural for dogs. Walking two abreast is not something dogs do.

It takes 2 years to train a good "heel" on a dog. It is started incrementally at home using a kitchen counter or other obstacle to help the dog stay straight. It is started using food as a lure. Two to three steps at a time.. and the dog focused on you. It takes short lessons (no more than 10 minutes), a lot of rewards and much patience. At 4 months old the dog is far too young to expect head up, focused heeling even for one step let alone outside for a walk! If you were trying to do this sort of heeling outside even for a few steps it is too much and could cause your puppy to avoid the behavior. Is this head up, focused heel what you are looking for?

Or are you looking for a dog that just walks next to, head down and leash loose?

These are two very different behaviors.. with the second less pressured and less focused. The second style will also result in the dog becoming distracted as it is more like just a walk.

Answer 2. That may be what caused it. Maintaining a heel is difficult even for adult dogs, much less a 4 month old puppy. I wouldn't expect a puppy to maintain a heel on a walk for more than 5-10 seconds! Even for my adult, I only ask for a heel for the minute or so it takes to pass other pedestrians or distractions where it is safer for him to be close to me. The rest was simply him keeping the leash loose, but otherwise free to walk how he pleased. The tight, short leash may have been aversive to him, and he likely didn't understand what you were asking.

You can try to teach "heel" again from scratch, but I would use a different cue word. Remember, puppies have very short attention spans, so don't expect them to maintain a heel for more than a few steps when they're so young.